James Dally, 69

A memorial service for James Weldon Dally, age 69, was held on Monday, December 1, at 2 p.m. at the Helgeson Funeral Chapel in Baudette with visitation beforehand. Interment will follow the service at Elm Park Cemetery in Baudette.

Jim passed away at home on Monday, November 24, surrounded by his loving family after suffering a severe stroke in September. 
Jim was born May 20, 1956, to Ronald and Lola Dally in Little Rock, Arkansas. He spent his childhood in Baudette, where he attended Wheeler School, and in Tacoma, Washington. 
He worked with his uncle Lyle on his farm in Baudette, MN, while attending and graduating from Lake of the Woods High School in 1974. 
After graduation, Jim joined the Air Force and was stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base and Hellenikon Air Base in Athens, Greece, giving Jim a love of all things Greek. He attended tech school at North Dakota State College of Science, graduating from their welding program.

Jim married Roxanne on May 29, 1982, while living in Fort Ransom, North Dakota. They had two sons, Dustin and Matthew. The family moved to Helena, Montana, in 1990, where Jim worked at the ASARCO Lead Smelter for several years. Jim and Roxanne divorced in 1997 but remained lifelong friends. 

Jim returned to Minnesota, where he worked at Razor Edge Systems in Ely. He later returned home to Baudette to be near his parents. He worked for SummerField Apartments as an apartment manager until he retired.

In his retirement, Jim enjoyed working part-time at Hometown Hardware Hank.  Jim spent his free time taking photographs of the wildlife and scenery around his yard and sharing them on Facebook for others to enjoy, and maintaining his family’s hunting property. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and enjoyed traveling to visit family in Colorado and Montana.

Jim is survived by his sons Dustin (Stephanie) and Matthew, their mother Roxanne Rickman, his parents, Ronald and Lola, brother Ron (Wendy) Dally, sisters LeaAnn (Butch) Willems, Barb (Brad) Roberson, and Dana DeMars, several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, aunts, and numerous cousins.

Jim was preceded in death by his grandson, Connor James, grandparents, Francis Lloyd and Iva Dally, Troy and Jessie Philpot, his beloved uncle, Lyle Philpot, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.